FENCES Stars Set For Theater Talk 5/27, TONY Predictions 6/5

Theater Talk, the series devoted to the world of the stage, is co-hosted by Michael Riedel, Broadway columnist for the New York Post, and series executive producer Susan Haskins.

The popular series is now being distributed nationally to PBS member stations by Executive Program Services (EPS). The series is co-produced by Theater Talk Productions, a not-for-profit corporation, and CUNY TV (City University of New York Television).

Episode #331
FENCES' Viola Davis,
Stephen McKinley Henderson
and Kenny Leon

Our guests are actors Viola Davis and Stephen McKinley Henderson from the celebrated revival of August Wilson's 1987 Pulitzer Prize-winning play Fences, now playing at the Cort Theater. Joining them is the production's director Kenny Leon. This production of Fences has received a Tony nomination for Best Revival and nine other nominations, including ones for Davis, Henderson, and Leon. (Uplink available May 27.)

Episode #332
Theater Talk's Enlightening, Insightful and Amusing
18th Annual TONY Awards Predictions Spectacular

Jesse Green of New York Magazine, Michael Musto of The Village Voice, and Patrick Pacheco of the LA Times, plus co-hosts Haskins and Riedel, handicap this year's Tony Awards races and explain why this Tony night is different from all other Tony nights. See a highlight of the show on La Daily Musto (Uplink available June 3.)

Episode #333
Britain's Baz Bamigboye
and Fela!

The UK's most influential theater columnist, Baz Bamigboye, drops by during his spring visit to Broadway. Bamigboye, who has been called the "Michael Riedel of London -- only nicer," reviews The Addams Family, Promises Promises, Million Dollar Quartet, Fela! and more.

Next up, we look at Fela!, one of the most Tony-nominated shows of the season with the musical's director/choreographer Bill T. Jones, producer Stephen Hendel, and it's magnetic star Sahr Ngaujah. (Uplink available June 10.)

In Memoriam

Michael Kuchwara
1947-2010

Saturday, May 22 the theater world lost one of its most beloved critics, Michael Kuchwara of the Associated Press. Kuchwara's reviews were syndicated all over the country, making him, in the words of Variety, "arguably the most influential legit critic in America."

Mike made many appearances on Theater Talkover the past 15 years and we will never forget his kindness, good humor and friendship. There will be a retrospective of Mike's appearances on our show next month. Meanwhile, in tribute, we have posted a short clip on Youtube from an appearance he made on Theater Talk last year.

Photo Credit: Genevieve Rafter-Keddy